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February 25, 2011.

ARTHUR WHITE LETTER TO MADELINE WATERFIELD WATERMAN

Comment: Amber Woodward - This letter is in response to the death of Annie Simpson Waterfield, 1875-1954 wife of Levy Norris Waterfield. My Grandmother (Madeline V, Waterfield Waterman) wrote him to tell him of Annie's passing. This is his response letter. He also mentions Mr. and Mrs. Simpson. They are Albert J. Simpson 1837-1880 and Sarah Frances Capps 1848-1880.

Los Angeles, California
Feb. 7, 55
Dear Madeline: I certainly appreciate your letter about Annie. although it made me sad to hear of her death. when I was at Knotts Island last time, I hadn't seen Annie since about 1898 or 99 and I went back to the Neck just to see the old place where my grandfather lived, and who should I see but Annie. I knew her at once and I said "why it's Annie Simpson" but it being so many long years she just couldn't guess who I was, and when Lee came home there was plenty more things and events that he remembered that we didn't have time to finish all we wanted to say, so I had to go back. it was a great pleasure [to] me because they knowing all my folks they had lots of information that I had never heard for forgotton.
When I was a very small boy at Wash Woods, Annie used to come over and stay with us often and I can remember her carrying me around in her arms. you know that has been some time ago as I am almost 69, will be this year. The Neck is one of my frist memories because I used to go there and stay a week or two with Grandma and Grandpa. and in fancy I can still hear the old Civil war songs he used to sing me while he rocked me in his Lap. and the stories he told me are still fresh in my mind. I often think of one especially. During the War the Union soldiers made a raid on Knotts Island and took all the live Stock and anything else they wanted. my Grandmother had some Gold in the house. before the Soldiers arrived she buried it under the Apple tree, and after they had caught all the chickens and turkeys and rounded up the cattle, it being a very hot day, they got under the apple tree to cool off, while the family in the house, badly frightened of course they take a sly peek through the window to see if they would notice the fresh dirt and start digging, but as the story went, Grandma saved her gold, or at least I hope she did. Mr. Albert Simpson, Annie's father and mother (I don't remember her first name) lived on the next farm. I remember them very well.
Those old times seem like a dream now. One of the great events we Kids at Wash Woods looked forward to was to sail over to the South End to see the Comet arrive at the Pier to unload freight. she looked awfully big to we Kids, and while getting tied up, there was plenty of noise going on, steam hissing and squirting, water churning and running off the drive wheels, men yelling to get the tie-ropes fastened, boxes and barrells being rolled off. I have never seen anything so exciting since. and when she pulled away, they would say "she was bound for Vanslakes and Narrow Shore" in my imagination they were in a very remote part of the World, and what was there, what would it look like? even the names had magic in the sound. so about forty or fifty years later I drove to narrow shore and van Slakes, nothing was there but some of the old and rotten stakes of the Wharf where the Comet stopped. and so the wonder wonder land of dreams vanished.
I hope I haven't bored you with all this stuff, Madeline, but when I began to write, it all came back to me and I couldn't resist putting it down. and some day I will have to tell you about the Protracted meetings at the Churches on Knotts Island, with dinners on the Ground. and singing like I've never heard before or since. all led by John Taylor and his Tuning Fork. People came from great distances to enjoy it all. as I look back on it all, it was life at it's best and people were happy. anyway, Madeline, when I meet you I will have lots more to tell you, maybe you have heard it many times, but it's fun to talk, and even though I have been away from Knotts Island for a long time, my roots are still there. when I go back I shall look forward to meeting you and your husband, I'm sure we would find plenty to talk about.
Thank you again for your nice letter, and I hope you might find some time to do it again.

February 25, 2011. Comment Brenda Twiford: Arthur James White, Born October 29, 1887 and Died Sept 1963. He was the son of Caleb Crocker White, he was the son of James A. White and he was the son of 4 generations of Henry White's, then Soloman White and then Patrick White.
Arthur's mother was Mary Elizabeth Williams and her mother was Rhoda Dudley. His grandmother on his father side was Elizabeth "Betsy" White.
Annie Loraine Simpson, daughter of Albert J. Simpson and Sarah Frances Capps, Born Oct 29, 1875 and died Dec 25, 1954. Annie married Levy Norris Waterfield on Dec 17, 1905.
A protracted meeting was a revival meeting.

February 25, 2011. Comment Melinda Lukei: John Taylor was a singing teacher and lead the singing at the Methodist church. I am pretty sure that Henry Ansell talks about him in his book on Knotts Island.